Rural immigration program turns permanent Jan. 1, 2027

The Rural Community Immigration Program will open as a permanent immigration pathway on Jan. 1, 2027, according to a page Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published Nov. 9.

IRCC said communities across Canada were selected because they showed they can support and benefit from skilled newcomers. Designated employers in those communities are approved to hire skilled migrants for jobs that local workers cannot fill.

The department’s page sets out the steps for applicants. A skilled worker checks eligibility, gets a job offer and a community recommendation, then applies for permanent residence online. The page also describes an optional work permit and settlement supports once an application is under way.

The program page lists no application deadline and no cap. The fee section did not load when Canada News Media reviewed the page, and IRCC points readers to its fee list for current amounts.

Eligibility rules sit on linked sub-pages, and anyone considering the program should read them in full before making plans. Job offers must come from designated employers in participating communities, so applicants should confirm an employer’s status with the community before accepting an offer.

The announcement comes as Ottawa holds its permanent resident target at 380,000 a year through 2029, as Canada News Media reported on Nov. 6. The Rural Community Immigration Program has operated as a pilot until now.

Questions about individual cases should go to IRCC or a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer. The program details are on the IRCC website.

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